Sports editor runs marathon to benefit mental illness group

"HELP!"
It's a cry no parent, no spouse wants to hear. A desperate, loud call in the middle of the night for help from someone hurting so much they would seek to harm themselves in such a way as to stop living.
It's a helpless feeling for a parent who is paralyzed by fear and the inability to make the pain go away.
How could someone hurt so much inside?How could someone see or feel no hope?
What can I do to show support and let others know, in my own small way, that the sun does come up tomorrow, that no matter how hopeless you feel inside, there are those of us who care and will be deeply crushed if you are not here to share in life's ups and downs.
On Oct. 20th, I am overjoyed to join forces with the rest of my family as we take to the streets of Detroit and Windsor to run the Free Press International Marathon in hopes of raising money for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
The plan was for the three kids -- Joel (29), Lindsey (26) and Kevin (23) -- to run the full marathons (26.2 miles) while mom and dad -- Kathy and yours truly -- run the half-marathon (13.1). In the process of training, however, Joel discovered it's not a good thing to run with a hairline fracture in one of his legs. Doctors have placed Joel on the unable to run list.
To sponsor us, visit our fundraising page: nami.org/mynamicause/tributes/kuehnmarathon. To be updated on our training progress, visit our training blog:
kuehnmarathonfornami.blogspot.com.
Lindsey and Kevin are both running a marathon for the second time. Lindsey is a former swimmer at Birmingham Seaholm and Northern Michigan University. Kevin is a former football player at Seaholm, who is 100 pounds less than his 285-pound playing weight.
Joel, a former hockey player at Michigan-Dearborn, was hoping to finish his first marathon.
There are 13.1 grueling miles in a half marathon, each one harder than the previous one.
Why do it? Here are 13 reasons ... one for each mile.
I run hoping to prevent one parent from hearing the gut-wrenching, piercing cry for help in the middle of the night that I heard.
I run hoping one child will step forward and ask for help before it's too late.
I run hoping this country will open its heart to the cries and do something about the stigma toward mental illness.
I run for family members -- old and young -- near and dear to me who struggle to get up in the morning but shine a bright light on so many of us.
I run so you hear me and get involved by contributing to the cause.
I run for Kevin, Lindsey and Joel, who cooked up this terrific idea on their own.
I run because, together, we can do amazing things.
I run for a new pair of shoes and a race T-shirt.
I run for the thrill of going over the Ambassador Bridge.
I run so I can shout while running through the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel.
I run because 1-in-5 Americans deal with mental illness.
I run for the 13.1 sticker I'll put in my car window.
Finally, I run to finish.
Thirteen reasons to run. All you need is one to join us in our cause.

Jeff Kuehn is the sports editor at The Oakland Press. Email him at jeff.kuehn
@oakpress.com
or reach him on Twitter
@jeffreykuehn

About the Author

Jeff Kuehn is sports editor. Watch him weekly on the "Lunch with Pat Caputo and Jeff Kuehn" video / live chat, Mondays at 1 p.m. Reach the author at jeff.kuehn@oakpress.com
or follow Jeff on Twitter: @JeffreyKuehn.